International News
Over 100 Dead As Monsoon Rains Devastate Northern Pakistan
Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan, leaving at least 117 people dead within the past 24 hours, according to disaster management officials.
The heaviest toll was recorded in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 110 fatalities were confirmed. Seven more people died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
“So far, across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 110 people have died due to cloudbursts, flash floods and roof collapses,” Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) spokesperson Anwar Shehzad told AFP, adding that 60 others were injured.
READ ALSO: Four Killed, Dozens Homeless As Flash Flood Devastates Indian Town
Authorities have declared Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit districts. In Bajaur, residents gathered around heavy machinery digging through a mud-soaked hillside in search of victims, while funeral prayers were held nearby for those who perished.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a fresh heavy rain alert for the northwest, advising residents to avoid “unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas.”
Across the border in Indian-administered Kashmir, a flood swept through a Himalayan village, killing at least 60 people and washing away dozens more.
While the monsoon season is vital for agriculture in South Asia—bringing about 75% of annual rainfall—it also brings widespread destruction. This year’s downpours, described by officials as “unusual,” have already claimed over 320 lives in Pakistan, nearly half of them children.
In July alone, Punjab province saw 73% more rainfall than last year, surpassing the total fatalities recorded during the entire previous monsoon.
Pakistan, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, has been battered by increasingly severe weather events in recent years.
Recall that in 2022, devastating floods submerged a third of the country and killed 1,700 people.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensified on its fourth day Tuesday, with fresh explosions reported in Tehran, missile interceptions over Jerusalem, and rising tensions spreading across Lebanon and Gulf states.
AFP journalists in Tehran reported loud blasts across several parts of the Iranian capital, though officials did not immediately confirm the exact targets.
RELATED NEWS: Tension in Lagos as IMN Protests ‘Assassination’ of Iran’s Khamenei
The conflict began over the weekend after coordinated US and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region.
Iran Appeals to UN
Iran called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene and halt the war. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the council had a responsibility to act, insisting there were no legal obstacles preventing immediate action.
Oil Surges as Hormuz Disrupted
Global oil prices spiked amid fears of supply disruption, particularly as the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a crucial oil shipping route — was effectively closed.
Brent crude rose more than eight percent to $85.12 per barrel, its highest level since mid-2024. Meanwhile, precious metals fell sharply, with gold dropping over four percent and silver plunging more than 12 percent as investors shifted toward energy and the US dollar.
Iran Issues Fresh Threats
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned of intensified attacks on US forces and Israeli targets.
A spokesman vowed that “continuous punitive attacks” would follow, declaring that the “gates of hell” would open against both nations.
Israeli Troops Advance in Lebanon
Israeli ground forces reportedly advanced into areas near Kfar Kila and the Khiam plains along the Lebanon border.
Israel said the move was aimed at creating a buffer zone to protect its northern communities.
The escalation has displaced at least 30,000 people in Lebanon, according to the UN refugee agency.
Nuclear Site Damaged
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran’s Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant sustained recent damage to entrance buildings at its underground facility. However, the agency said no radiological consequences were expected.
Gulf Capitals, US Embassy Hit
Explosions were also reported in Manama and Doha as Iranian strikes continued into a fourth day.
In the UAE, drone debris sparked a fire in an oil zone in Fujairah, though authorities said the blaze was contained.
Two drones reportedly struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing a fire. Saudi officials condemned the attack as unjustified.
Tech Infrastructure Targeted
US tech giant Amazon confirmed that two of its data centres in the UAE were directly hit by drones, disrupting cloud services in parts of the Middle East. A nearby facility in Bahrain was also damaged.
Global Reactions
US President Donald Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over disagreements on the use of British military bases, saying relations were “not like they used to be.”
France deployed Rafale fighter jets to protect its bases in the UAE, while China urged all sides to ensure safety in the Strait of Hormuz and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Iran has called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently intervene and halt the ongoing war involving the Islamic Republic, Israel and the United States.
Speaking during a weekly foreign ministry briefing on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the global body has both the authority and responsibility to act in order to prevent further escalation of hostilities.
SEE ALSO: US, Israel Wipe Out Iran’s Top Military Brass as War Enters Third Day
“The United Nations Security Council has a duty… if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will,” Baqaei stated.
His remarks come amid rising tensions and continued military exchanges that have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.
Iran maintains that international institutions must step in decisively to prevent further loss of life and instability across the Middle East.
Tehran’s appeal places renewed pressure on the Security Council’s five permanent members, whose divisions have often stalled unified action in past conflicts involving major global powers.
Analyst say any meaningful intervention would require consensus among key stakeholders, including Washington and its allies.
The war has drawn global concern, with several countries calling for restraint and diplomatic engagement to avoid further deterioration of security in the region.
Fuel Price Shock: Nigerians May Soon Pay ₦1,500 Per Litre – Marketers Warn
Political Earthquake in Zamfara as Gov Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
Court Pushes Malami, Son’s Terrorism Financing Trial to April 15
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
Greetings! I’ve been following your site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic work!
Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you guys to our blogroll.
Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
I am glad to be one of several visitors on this outstanding site (:, regards for posting.
I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It?¦s lovely price sufficient for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content as you did, the net shall be much more useful than ever before.
Hello. fantastic job. I did not anticipate this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say great blog!
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this website wants far more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read way more, thanks for that info.
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.” by Michel de Montaigne.
I’ve been browsing online greater than three hours these days, yet I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the net can be much more useful than ever before.
After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.